Costly Present

What is Christmas without gifts? So apparently thought the members of
the U.S. House and Senate last December when they quietly voted to give
themselves a tax break: an automatic deduction of $75 for living
expenses each day Congress meets during the year. Members could take
advantage of the deduction even on days they were not in Washington, as
long as at least a few of their colleagues were in session. That bit of
self-beneficence raised the annual tax deduction to which members are
entitled from $3,000 to about $20,000.